STRATIGRAPHY OF THE AVIS LIMESTONE MEMBER IN THE HINTON FORMATION, ATHENS, WV

The Avis Limestone of the Upper Mississippian Hinton Formation is an important regional, subsurface marker bed, and is commonly used as a datum for stratigraphic cross-sections and structural contour maps. Examining the fossil fauna of the Avis will help determine the suitability of the Avis for this task. The Avis was examined at two outcrops around Athens, WV: Laurel Creek Rd. and Old Dairy Rd. Close examination of the fossil distribution within the Avis will attempt to find subtle correlation markers. The distribution of fossils ranges from highly fossiliferous zones to zones where fossils are sparsely scattered. The Avis comprises a mix of grainstones and packstones with interbedded shaly mudstone, wackestone, and coquinite. The shallow marine fauna comprises brachiopod genera, such as Ovatia, Orthotetes, Echinoconchus, and Productus, unidentified pelecypods, and bryozoan genera including, Fenestrellina and Polypora. Tentative analysis suggests the presence of three broad fossil assemblages: a brachiopod assemblage, a mixed brachiopod and pelecypod assemblage, and a third strictly bryozoan assemblage. The brachiopod assemblage occurs primarily at the base and top of the Avis. The mixed brachiopod/pelecypod assemblage occurs in the middle of the unit. The isolated bryozoan assemblage also occurs in the center of the unit. Fossils often occur in lenses and are usually disarticulated.